A brand-new sensor design incorporated into a blue headband was utilized to wirelessly manage a robotic utilizing just brain waves. Credit: Adapted from ACS Applied Nano Materials, 2023, DOI: 10.1021/ acsanm.2 c05546.
Scientists have created a 3D-patterned, graphene-based, dry sensor that can determine the brains electrical activity without relying on conductive gels. The dry sensing units are less annoying and allergenic compared to standard “damp” sensors utilized in electroencephalography (EEG) to identify neurological conditions or control external devices through brain-machine user interfaces. When incorporated into a flexible headband and used with an augmented reality headset, the dry sensors enabled hands-free control of a robot by analyzing brain signals. Not as reliable as wet sensing units yet, this advancement marks development towards quickly executed, non-invasive brain-machine user interfaces.
It seems like something from science fiction: Don a specialized, electronic headband and manage a robot using your mind. Now, current research released in ACS Applied Nano Materials has actually taken a step towards making this a reality. By developing an unique, 3D-patterned structure that doesnt depend on sticky conductive gels, the team has actually produced “dry” sensing units that can measure the brains electrical activity, even amidst hair and the bumps and curves of the head.
Physicians screen electrical signals from the brain with electroencephalography (EEG), in which specialized electrodes are either implanted into or placed on the surface of the head. EEG helps diagnose neurological disorders, however it can likewise be included into “brain-machine interfaces,” which use brain waves to control an external device, such as a prosthetic limb, robot, and even a computer game.
Most non-invasive variations include the use of “damp” sensing units, which are stuck onto the head with a gloopy gel that can irritate the scalp and in some cases set off allergic reactions. As an alternative, scientists have actually been establishing “dry” sensors that do not need gels, but thus far none have actually worked in addition to the gold-standard wet variety.
Nanomaterials like graphene might be an appropriate option, their flat and normally flaky nature makes them incompatible with the irregular curves of the human head, especially over long durations. Francesca Iacopi and colleagues wanted to produce a 3D, graphene-based sensor based on polycrystalline graphene that might precisely keep an eye on brain activity without any stickiness.
The group produced several 3D graphene-coated structures with various shapes and patterns, each around 10 µm thick. Of the shapes evaluated, a hexagonal pattern worked the very best on the curved, hairy surface area of the occipital region– the spot at the base of the head where the brains visual cortex is located. The group included 8 of these sensors into an elastic headband, which held them versus the back of the head.
When combined with an enhanced truth headset showing visual hints, the electrodes might spot which cue was being seen, then work with a computer system to translate the signals into commands that managed the motion of a four-legged robot– completely hands-free.
The brand-new electrodes didnt yet work quite as well as the wet sensors, the scientists state that this work represents a first action towards developing robust, quickly executed dry sensing units to assist broaden the applications of brain-machine interfaces.
Recommendation: “Noninvasive Sensors for Brain– Machine Interfaces Based on Micropatterned Epitaxial Graphene” by Shaikh Nayeem Faisal, Tien-Thong Nguyen Do, Tasauf Torzo, Daniel Leong, Aiswarya Pradeepkumar, Chin-Teng Lin and Francesca Iacopi, 16 March 2023, ACS Applied Nano Materials.DOI: 10.1021/ acsanm.2 c05546.
The authors acknowledge financing from the Defence Innovation Hub of the Australian Government and assistance from the Australian National Fabrication Facility of the University of Technology Sydney and the Research & & Prototype Foundry at the University of Sydney Nano Institute.
Scientists have developed a 3D-patterned, graphene-based, dry sensor that can determine the brains electrical activity without relying on conductive gels. The dry sensors are less allergenic and irritating compared to traditional “wet” sensing units used in electroencephalography (EEG) to identify neurological disorders or control external devices through brain-machine interfaces. When incorporated into a flexible headband and utilized with an increased truth headset, the dry sensing units allowed hands-free control of a robot by analyzing brain signals. By developing a special, 3D-patterned structure that does not rely on sticky conductive gels, the team has created “dry” sensing units that can determine the brains electrical activity, even in the middle of hair and the bumps and curves of the head.
